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COMMUNICATIONS & NETWORKS FEATURE OPEN UP A WHOLE NEW WORLD


ABB explains the advantages of Ethernet communications in industrial applications and how it can improve digital data capture for measurement and analytics purposes


D


igital technology has made inroads in all aspects of our lives and has had a


particularly profound effect on industry. One of the biggest of these has been in measurement and analytics technology - the flow meters, pressure sensors and temperature measurement devices that form the eyes and ears of process plants. Over the last few years, these have


undergone a major change in how they send information to process monitoring systems. Although many instruments still use analogue 4-20mA instruments, they are gradually being replaced by the shiny new world of digital instrumentation. A digital instrument will always provide an accurate representation of process


systems are increasingly being supplanted by Ethernet. As a ‘plug and play’ technology, Ethernet


is very easy to set up. Ethernet allows the use of more common commercially available electrical components, helping future proof the system and keep costs down by giving access to many sources of supply.


THE NEED FOR SPEED It also offers high bandwidth, low signal loss, high reliability and high speed – some varieties are fast enough to handle


‘Better, more convenient access to data doesn’t just benefit productivity alone –quality control, stock management, maintenance and other aspects can see an improvement through greater use of Ethernet’


values, because its data is sent as a stream of discrete ones and zeros, but what type of communication protocol is best for industrial measurement?


ENTER ETHERNET Historically, data transfer applications in industrial settings in Europe have used Profibus fieldbus communication. It has been particularly popular in food and beverage plants, because there are many instruments which must be linked to the DCS for recording and traceability purposes, essential for quality control. Yet, Profibus is no longer flavour of the


month and its drawbacks are becoming more apparent. One disadvantage is that the end user must be an expert on the particular protocol and how to set it up. Specific cables, connections and line


terminations must be used, and it also needs specialist equipment for maintenance and troubleshooting. Another drawback is that, although


Profibus is quite an open protocol, fieldbus users can be locked into a single vendor at the control system level. Because of these disadvantages, fieldbus


the needs of real time motion control. One disadvantage is that Fieldbus and


Ethernet networks are limited in the cable lengths they can use, typically 200m. One of the hurdles that prevented more


widespread adoption of Ethernet for measurement applications was the lack of processing power within the signal converter from a device. Today, we have much smarter transmission technology that wasn’t previously available. Combined with Edge computing,


Ethernet allows individual instruments to be linked to the Internet, opening the way for Cloud solutions. This connectivity raises the issue of cybersecurity. Ten years ago, cybersecurity presented a bigger concern for customers. These days, Edge PCs are available that are rated to recognised cybersecurity standards and are designed from the ground up for maximum security. This means that you essentially have a box with no connections to it and which cannot be compromised. The benefits of using Ethernet to


connect your digital instruments opens up a whole new world of information and


/ PROCESS&CONTROL


The SM500F field-mount paperless recorder ensures full protection against water and dust ingress, making it suitable for hose-down and dirty applications in even the most hostile environments


control. Some measurement devices include a web server within the transmitter which provides memory storage for information such as manuals and supporting documents. Users can get access to this memory space to help ensure cybersecurity. Ethernet also offers the capability of


Power over Ethernet or PoE, a technology which uses a network cable to carry electric power. Because it uses only one cable, PoE


allows daisy chaining of the network – making links from one device to the next. As the ability of data networks to handle


and relay data improves, there is a growing demand for data to control processes. This in turn means less waste and a higher quality product. Control systems of course rely on data


input. Systems such as the ABB 800xA control system use Ethernet as a way of getting data into them, improving the predictability and utilisation of data. From the manufacturer’s side, Ethernet


enables better troubleshooting and fault diagnosis and a better ability to help customers. Fault reporting is based on the NAMUR standard for fault interpretation. Remote access to data enables either the user or manufacturer to offer expert advice to operatives. ABB’s digital service can use Augmented


Reality to guide a customer engineer to address a fault without ABB’s engineers having to be there.


MULTIPLE BENEFITS Better, more convenient access to data doesn’t just benefit productivity alone – quality control, stock management, maintenance and many other aspects of industrial companies can see an improvement through a greater use of Ethernet. The customer is taking the lead in


making manufacturers sign up to Ethernet – with its ease of use and top rate performance, making greater use of this capable technology will benefit everyone who needs to carry out process measurement, and opens the path to much more capability in the future.


A secure, easy-to-use, touchscreen, paperless recorder, the RVG200 has Ethernet communications as standard


ABB new.abb.com


PROCESS & CONTROL | NOVEMBER 2020 9


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